Effervescent tablet dispenser

ABSTRACT

The effervescent tablet dispenser may be assembled onto the open end of a container tube ( 2 ). It consists of an annular lower part ( 3 ) which may be assembled onto the open end of a container tube ( 2 ). For this there is a lid ( 4 ) for closing the annular lower part ( 3 ). A dispenser tab ( 8 ) extends diametrically in a tongue-like manner in the lower part ( 3 ) in its clear opening This dispenser tab ( 8 ) is integrally formed on the inner edge ( 10 ) of the lower part ( 3 ) in the manner of a film hinge. With respect to the annular lower part ( 3 ) is may be pivoted out in the axial direction by at least 10°. When the container tube is tipped, the dispenser tab under the load of a tablet lying on it pivots approx. 10° downwards and the lowermost tablet may be easily removed with one hand, whilst the remaining ones are held back.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an effervescent tablet dispenser. Effervescenttablets are manufactured in a certain size, as a rule are disk-shapedwith a diameter in the shape of about 30 mm and with a thickness ofabout 5 mm in order to specify the magnitude of size. The dispenserbeing introduced here however may also be designed for, and is suitablefor tablets of other dimensions. Conventionally, such disk-shapedeffervescent tablets are packaged and sold in aluminum tubes of about 10cm length, which at one end comprise a base and whose open end is closedwith a plastic closure after the filling. This plastic closure may bedesigned as a plug so that it therefore only needs to be pressed intothe inside of the open tube. Other closures by way of a special outwardformation of the tube edge and of the closure may clicked onto the edgeof the tube or may be pushed over this in a manner such that they snapin. Closures which are designed cap-like with an inner thread in the capand which may be screwed onto the open end of the tube by way of thisthread are also conceivable. Often, the plastic closures on the innerside which is directed towards the tube comprise an elastic spiral whichis integrally formed on the closure. If the tube has been filled withtablets by the manufacturer of the tablets, these tablets in the insideof the tube form a stack which however between its upper end and thelower side of the attached closure always leaves a small gap open Inorder to fill this or to compensate this and to prevent the tabletsbeing thrown to and fro during transport and shipping on account of thisgap and from becoming damaged, the end of the elastic spiral pressesresiliently onto the upper end of the stack and holds this stack pressedtogether in a compact manner. A further closure is designed as a hingeclosure. Its lower part is assembled onto the open end of the tube, anda pivotable lid (top) is integrally formed on this lower part via a filmhinge, and this clicks onto the lower part when this is pivotallyclosed. For removing an individual tablet, one removes the closure lidor in the case of a closure with a pivotable lid one pivots the lid openand afterwards one tips the tube with one hand and holds its open end inthe cup of the other hand. One often needs to shake the tube somewhat sothat the tablets in the tube are detached and the stack slides outwards.However, then as a rule two or even more tablets roll into the cup madeby the hand. One takes an individual tablet and must then place theexcess tablets which have fallen out of the tube back into the tubeagain The removal of an individual tablet therefore has its problems andin all events has not been solved in a practical manner. In particularthe individual separation has not been technically solved and in eachcase more tablets inadvertently fall from the tube than is indeeddesired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide aneffervescent tablet dispenser which alleviates these problems andpermits the secure and practical removal of an individual tablet.

This object is achieved by an effervescent tablet dispenser which may beassembled onto the open end of a container tube and wherein it consistsof an annular lower part which may be assembled onto the open end of acontainer tube, as well as of an associated lid for closing this annularlower part, wherein in the lower part a dispenser tab extends in atonguelike manner and diametrically into the clear opening of the lowerpart, wherein this dispenser tab is integrally formed on the inner edgeof the lower part in the manner of a film hinge, so that with regard tothe annular lower part it may be pivoted out in the axial direction byat least 10°.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One advantageous embodiment of this effervescent tablet dispenser shownonly by way of example is shown in various views in the drawings, and isdescribed and its functioning is explained by way of these drawings.

There are shown in:

FIG. 1: the effervescent tablet dispenser in the closed condition,assembled onto a container tube, seen from the side, with the snap hingebelonging to the closure and the oppositely lying guarantee strip;

FIG. 2 the effervescent tablet dispenser in the closed condition,assembled on a container tube, rotated by 90° with respect to FIG. 1, ina view of the front side of the closure, with the guarantee strip;

FIG. 3 the effervescent tablet dispenser in the closed condition,assembled on a container tube, in a section along the line A—A of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 the effervescent tablet dispenser in the cutout C according toFIG. 3, in an enlarged representation;

FIG. 5 the effervescent tablet dispenser without a container tube, withan opened lid, in a perspective view seen obliquely from the front;

FIG. 6: the effervescent tablet dispenser without a container tube, withan opened lid, in a perspective view seen obliquely from the rear;

FIG. 7: the effervescent tablet dispenser without a container tube withan opened lid, seen a view from the side;

FIG. 8: the effervescent tablet dispenser without a container tube withan opened lid, in a view seen from above;

FIG. 9: the effervescent tablet dispenser assembled on a container tube,here in the tipped position of the container tube, with an opened lid,seen in a view from the side, partly in section, with a dispensedtablet;

FIG. 10: the effervescent tablet dispenser assembled on a containertube, here in the tipped position of the container tube, with an openedlid, seen in a perspective view obliquely from below, with a dispensedtablet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 one may firstly see the effervescent tablet dispenser 1 in theclosed condition, assembled onto a container tube 2, seen from the side.At the right in the picture on this effervescent tablet dispenserdesigned as a closure 1 one may recognize a snap hinge 6 about which thelid 4 may be pivoted open upwards with respect to the lower part 3 ofthe closure 1. On the oppositely lying side, the closure is equippedwith a guarantee strip 5. This must be tom away so that the lid 4 may bepivoted open for the first time. In FIG. 2 in the right next to this,one sees the same object rotated by 90° so that now the guarantee strip5 lies at the front. The lid 4 here has the shape of a truncated cone,but may however also be shaped hemispherically or also in a differentmanner. FIG. 3 finally shows the same object in a longitudinal sectionalong line A—A in FIG. 2. One recognizes the three tablets 7 stackedtherein in the container tube 2. The cutout C in FIG. 3 is shownenlarged in FIG. 4. One recognizes that a dispenser tab 8 on the leftside in the picture is integrally formed on the lower part 3 of theclosure 1 via a small material bridge 9, and this dispenser tab is yetto be described in more detail. On the left on the closure onerecognizes the snap hinge 6. One furthermore recognizes the inwardlyprojecting edge 13 on the lower side of the lower part 3 of theeffervescent tablet dispenser 1, as well as the outwardly projectingedge 14 on the opening of the container tube 2. This effervescent tabletdispenser 1 which simultaneously forms a closure for the container tube2, thanks to the shaping of its lower edge 13 may be pushed over theprojecting edge 14 on the container tube 2 is a manner such that itssnaps in, so that it is securely held thereon. For this, theeffervescent tablet dispenser may be injected as one piece, but also oftwo different components. The lower part 3 may for example bemanufactured of a softer material than the lid 4. A polyethylene forexample is suitable for the lower part 3, whilst the film hinge 6 andthe lid 4 are injected of a harder material such as polypropylene. Thetube 2 may at the same time consist for example of a relatively hardpolypropylene or of aluminum onto which the lower part 3 is then knockedor screwed. It is also conceivable for pushing the two parts, the lid 4and the lower part 3 over one another, reversely for the lower part 3for example to be manufactured of a harder material than the lid 4. Thenfor example a polypropylene is suitable for the lower part 3 whilst thefilm hinge 6 and the lid 4 are injected of a softer material such aspolyethylene.

The effervescent tablet dispenser 1 is shown in FIG. 5 in the openedcondition in a perspective view seen from the front. At the rear sideone may recognize the snapping film hinge 6 between the annular lowerpart 3 and the here truncated cone shaped lid 4 of the dispenser closure1. The snap hinge 6 is designed according to the state of the art and inthe closed condition pulls the lid 1 onto the closure lower part 3,whilst in the condition of being pivoted open it keeps it in this openedcondition On the side lying opposite the snap hinge 6 one may recognizethe guarantee strip 5. This effervescent tablet dispenser 1 according tothe shown embodiment example then, as an essential feature, comprises adispensing tab 8 extending in the lower part 3 of the closure 1 from thehinge side in a tonguelike and diametrical manner into the clear openingof the lower part. In the shown example this dispenser tab 8 is designedso long that it spans the complete clear width of the dispenser closerlower part 3. Its width is about ⅓ of the inner diameter of the closurelower part 3. It may however also be designed somewhat narrower and/orshorter, depending on the dimensions of the tablets to be dispensed. Inone variant, the dispenser tab 8 may also be designed plate-like andfill out the complete clear width of the closure lower part 3. Thisdispenser tab 8 is integrally formed on the inner edge 10 of the lowerpart 3 via at least one film-hinge-like, thin material connection 9. Inanother embodiment, the tongue-shaped or plate-shaped dispenser tab mayalso be manufactured as a separate part and then be clipped onto theclosure lower part 3 in that the tab has a hinge bolt integrally formedroughly on its rear side, which may be clicked into a hinge sleevehorizontally integrally formed on the closure lower part 3 which forthis has a slot-like recess in the axial direction which permits theclicking-in of the associated hinge bolt Of course it is reversely alsopossible for the dispenser tab to carry the hinge sleeve which is openon one side and for the hinge bolt to be integrally formed on theclosure lower part 3. In both cases thanks to this connection, thedispenser tab in the closure lower part 3 may be pivoted up and down.The hinges at the same time are designed such that the pivot range islimited, for example to approx 30°. For this, the outer side of thedispenser tab may have a reinforcement rib whose rear edge on pivotingthe dispenser tab in the closure part 3 is abutted on this. The reasonfor limiting the pivot range will become evident later. In the shownexample however, with regard to the parts which act as a hinge, it isthe case of two material connections 9 via which the dispenser tab 8 isheld on the lower part 3 in a manner which is stable with regard to thetwisting about its longitudinal axis. These material connections 9 aredesigned so thinly that the dispenser tab 8 with respect to the annularlower part 3 of the closure 1 may be pivoted open by at leastapproximately 30°, that is to say, in the picture may be pivotedupwards. Furthermore the dispenser tab 8 shown here, on its upper sideand running along its middle comprises a rib 11 which tapers into a tiptowards the front end of the tab 9 in a wedge-like manner. This rib 11reinforces the dispenser tab 8 and renders it stiff On its rear side 12,this rib 11 with its rearward edge forms an abutment. If specificallythe dispenser tab 8 is pivoted upwards about its film-hinge like rootconnection 9, the vertical rear edge 12 of the rib 11 pivots to the rearand finally abuts on the inner edge 10 of the dispenser closure lowerpart 3. By way of this, the extent of the pivoting-out of the dispensertab 8 is limited. This function is significant as will be describedlater.

FIG. 6 shows the effervescent tablet dispenser 1 in a perspective viewobliquely from the rear. Here one may recognize the material bridges 9as well as the rear edge 12 of the rib 11 which forms an abutment whichabuts on the inner edge 10 of the lower part 3 on pivoting open thedispenser tab 8 and thus limits the pivoting movement. Small wedge-likeguide elements 15 are integrally formed around the inner periphery ofthe lower part 3. These center the tablets which in the picture movethrough the effervescent tablet dispenser from the bottom to the top, aswill become evident later.

In FIG. 7 one may recognize the effervescent tablet closure in theopened condition seen from the side, in a section through itslongitudinal center. One recognizes the lower part 3 with the lid 4pivoted open by 180°. One may further recognize the dispenser tab 8which runs flush with the upper edge of the lower part 3 of the closure,as well as a material bridge 9 and the reinforcement rib 11 with itsrear edge 12 which abuts on the slightly raised inner edge 10 onpivoting open the dispenser tab. One may furthermore see a number ofguide elements 15 which serve for centering the tablets. In FIG. 8 theclosure or effervescent tablet dispenser 1 is shown in the openedcondition in a plan view. As one recognizes, the dispenser tab 8 extendsover the whole clear diameter of the lower part and its width measuresapprox. ⅓ of this diameter. One recognizes the two material bridges 9and the rib 11 which serves for stiffening the dispenser tab 8.

FIG. 9 shows a container tube 2 filled with tablets 7 in the tippedcondition, with an effervescent tablet dispenser 1 assembled on its openside, with a pivoted-open lid 4, thus in the opened condition The tabletstack 7 located in the container tube 2 with its weight presses on thedispenser tab 8. Under the load of this weight, the dispenser tab 8pivots downward until the rear side 12 of the rib 11 abuts on the inneredge 10 of the closure lower part 3. Then the pivot position of the tab8 which is shown here is assumed. The tablet 7 which is at the verybottom in the shown representation then lies at the bottom on the stack,but is pivoted by 30° downwards with respect to the tablets lying aboveit, which still lie snugly in the inside of the container tube, sincethe somewhat broader inner diameter of the annular closure lower part 3below the guide elements 15 permits this pivoting of the lowermosttablet 7 lying on the dispenser tab 8. Furthermore, on falling throughthe closure lower part 3 it is centered by the guide elements 15 whichare integrally formed all around. In the slightly pivoted downcondition, this tablet 7 may be easily grasped with the thumb and indexor middle finger of a hand and may be taken out along the dispenser tab8 in the direction of the drawn arrow. As soon as the tablet has beentaken out in the direction of the arrow, the dispenser tab 8 catches thesubsequent tablet which one however no longer removes but pushes it backinto the container tube 2 by way of pivoting back the dispenser tab 8 byway of a slight pressure on its upper side, by which means the lid 4 maybe closed. The material bridges 9 via which the dispenser tab 8 isintegrally formed on the closure lower part 3 are designed so thinly andweakly that they also are pivoted downwards under the weight of only asingle tablet 7 contained in the container tube 2. On the other handhowever the material bridges 9 are so strong that they do not breakunder the load of the whole stack, thus when the container tube 2 isstill completely filled. Rather then the abutment 12 formed by the rearedge 12 of the rib 11 ensures that the dispenser tab 8 is not pivotedtoo greatly downwards and thus it is ensured that in each case only asingle tablet is dispensed for removal. Thus by way of the thin materialbridges 9 and the abutment 12, it is ensured that the dispenser tab 8 isalways pivoted downwards reliably to the same degree irrespective of howmany tablets 7 are loaded on it when the container tube is tipped.

Finally in FIG. 10, the same situation as in FIG. 9 is shown, but in aperspective view obliquely from below. The inner edge of the lower part3 is slightly raised in the region of the material bridges 9 of thedispenser tab 8 so that the rear edge of the rib 11 is abutted thereon.In place of two material bridges it may also be the case of only asingle one which then extends over a part of the rear broad side of thedispenser tab or even over its whole width As already mentioned, thedispenser tab may also be designed in a pivotable manner in that it isdesigned as a separate part and then via a hinge is fastened to a boltor sleeve on the lower part of the closure. However the hinge then doesnot form any restoring force and the dispenser tab must be pushed backeach time into the original position with the finger. Furthermore thehinge should be so easily overcome that a single tablet is still able topivot the dispenser tab downwards. If the hinge is not so easy-runningthen on the outer side of the dispenser tab one may integrally form agrip for example in the shape of a small hump. Then one may then gripthe dispenser tab there and actively pivot it downwards so that anindividual tablet is dispensed.

It is clear that such a dispenser closure for effervescent tablets mayalso be designed as a threaded closure in that the closure lower part 3comprises a thread on its outer side and the associated lid 4 comprisesan inner thread which fits with this. The seam location between theclosure lower part 3 and the lid 4 may in this case be provided with aperipheral guarantee strip. The closure lower part 3 may be fastened onthe container tube 2 in various manners. This may be by way of an innerthread which fits onto a corresponding thread on the container tube 2.Or the closure lower part 3 on its lower edge is provided with an edgewhich projects slightly inwards and which via a slight projection 14fits on the outer edge of the container tube opening, as this is shownin FIG. 4.

1. An effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube, said effervescent tablet dispenser, comprising: an annular lower part capable of being assembled onto an open end of a container tube; a dispenser tab in said annular lower part, said dispenser tab extending diametrically into a clear opening of said lower annular part with said dispenser tab being integrally formed on an inner edge of said annular lower part in a hinged manner, via a film-hinge material bridge extending over at least a portion of a width of said dispenser tab, for being pivotable outwardly in an axial direction relative to said annular lower part, said dispenser tab further comprising at least one rib standing vertically on said dispenser tab for reinforcing said dispenser tab and with a rear edge of said at least one rib, upon pivoting open in said annular lower part, forming an abutment at said inner edge of said annular lower part for limiting pivotal movement; and, a lid for closing said annular lower part.
 2. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, wherein said annular lower part is made of a harder material than a material of which said lid is made.
 3. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, wherein said lid is made of a harder material than a material of which said lower annular part is made.
 4. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser tab in said annular lower part diametrically extends in a tongue-like manner in the clear opening of said annular lower part, said dispenser tab being pivotable outwardly in the axial direction by at least 10°.
 5. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser tab extends diametrically in the clear opening of said annular lower part in a plate-like, or tongue-like, manner, wherein said dispenser tab via a hinge of a bolt and sleeve is clickable onto said inner edge of said annular lower part, so that, relative to said lower annular part, said dispenser tab is pivotable outwardly in the axial direction by at least 10°.
 6. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser tab has a width of ⅓ of an inner diameter of said annular lower part and with a length of said dispenser tab extending entirely over the inner diameter of said annular lower part.
 7. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, wherein said dispenser tab has an end that is integrally formed on said inner edge of said annular lower part via two film-hinge material bridges distanced from one another, so that said dispenser tab is integrally formed in a twist-stable manner about a longitudinal axis of said dispenser tab.
 8. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, further comprising guide elements for centering a tablet falling through said annular lower part being integrally formed and distributed around a periphery of an inner wall of said annular lower part.
 9. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, wherein said annular lower part includes an inner thread for permitting said annular lower part to be screwed onto the open end of a container tube.
 10. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, wherein said annular lower part includes an inwardly projecting edge, so that said lower annular part is able to be pushed over a container tube with an outwardly projecting bead in a click-in manner.
 11. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, wherein said lid is connected to said annular lower part via a film-hinge snap hinge.
 12. The effervescent tablet dispenser assemblable onto an open end of a container tube according to claim 1, wherein said lid is a threaded lid having an inner thread that is screwable onto a fitting outer thread on said annular lower part. 